I am stark raving mad about Denver Water. Another AWWA ACE has come and gone, and as a show attendee, of course I felt dehydrated for a week from traveling. I cannot believe how great the tap water in Denver tasted. I wanted to bottle it and take it home with me.
On that note, as I went through security at Denver International Airport (DEN), I threw out my bottle of water in the trash bin after taking one last, long, luxurious sip. Then I thought, as my daughter had pointed out on a previous trip, “oh no, that water is trapped inside that non-biodegradable bottle forever!” If anyone knows what happens to that hard-earned, drinkable, water, email me.
Our special section this issue threads all the pressing issues from ACE25 together. PFAS and litgation, an update on microplastics, and how wildfire can affect water supply.
During our time in Denver, the Endeavor Business Media water group editors stopped by the Aurora Water's Peter D. Binney Water Purification Facility. They are the largest, most established indirect potable reuse plant in the state, they are inland (so brine from reverse osmosis would present a problem), and they have two different source waters — and two different treatment streams. We spoke with two of the shift supervisors, Chris and Richard, a process specialist, Ann, and the water reuse chief engineer, Jason, and I cannot say enough how welcoming they were. On a clear, picturesque day, as we were making our exit, suddenly, it started to “rain” — to sideways rain, to upside down rain, to horizontal rain. They gave us umbrellas as a parting gift. “Welcome to Colorado.”
We also visited Marston Water Treatment Plant. It’s a lot bigger than you think. A hundred years old, it was steeped in history. For the water nerds out there, see an photo essay of the trade publication I saw in the lobby along with the handwritten notebook of what I suspect was the first engineer at the plant. I can imagine this man reading the trade pub in his “spare time.” Thank you for reading this. Until next time.
Read the Digital July/August Issue here.
About the Author
Mandy Crispin
Mandy Crispin is the editor-in-chief of WaterWorld magazine and co-host of water industry podcast Talking Under Water. She can be reached at [email protected].